20220102 English Bulletin

WELCOME TO CAMBERWELL METHODIST CHURCH We are a faith community that is growing in our love for Jesus, who died for our sins, and is raised from the death. We are called to follow Jesus, and to make disciple of all nations. If you would like to know more about God, Jesus, or our church or the bible, please use [email protected] / Minister-in-Charge Rev. James Kong 0413 953 238 / Assistant Pastor (English) Ps. Allan Quah) 0402 675 219 to Get in Touch. 58 Cooloongatta Road, Camberwell, VIC 3124 • Tel: (03) 9889 0702 • www.cmca-camberwell.org.au

Silent Prayer ORDER OF WORSHIP Call to Worship Holy Communion & Covenant Sunday Adoration & Praise (2 January 2022) Prayer <Be Still in the Presence of the Lord> Apostle Creed Welcome/Notices 396 <Give of Your Best to the Master> Offering Intercessory Prayer 2 Thess. 2:15 Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper Stand Firm and Hold onto the Truth Scripture Reading Proclamation of the Word Covenant Prayer Chorus of Response Benediction Ministry Roster 2/1/2022 Preacher Rev James Kong Worship Leader Joo Soo Lim Song Leader Cheryl Chan Backup Wesley Chew Pianist Venus Kang Keyboardist - Accompaniment Joseph Fung Cajon Jonathan Liew Bible Reader Verene Kang Multimedia Yew Fong Lim Live Stream/PA Jin Loong & Andrew Zhang Ushers Jacklyn & Jamilyn Wong Floral - HC Prep Cerene Quah Preacher Ps. Allan Quah Ministry Roster 9/1/2022 Song Leader Jenny Chiu Worship Leader Chris Ting Pianist Ing Soo Tiong Backup Sue Loo Accompaniment Cheng Loon Leong Keyboardist - Bible Reader En Sing Lim Cajon Bryan Law Live Stream/PA Gerald Wong & Alister Chew Multimedia Aaron Tiew Floral - Ushers Joyce & Jaden Wong HC Prep - 2

“God looks for those whose hearts are prepared to be intercessors before Him ...Intercessors can be the only ones standing between an individual or a nation and God’s wrath.” Henry Blackaby Weekly Praying for the Church 1. Pray for coming back to church to 3. Pray for Annual Conference continue worship to be faithful in leading all churches in Australia, that we may work together to 2.1 Pray for ongoing streaming work to bring the gospel to the those who are be effective, and glorifying God; lost, and discipled to be fisher of men and women. 2.2 Pray for wisdom to discern how to allow congregation to come back to 4. P ray for Jimmy Kong (therapy worship with limited seat capacity due treatment), Ken Hii, Clarence Yek, Uncle to social distancing; Hii, Aunty Su King Ting, Mdm. Lu (Mrs. Kong’s mum), Christina (Boon Koh’s 2.3 Pray for the small groups, and sister, Canada), Flora (Singapore) and fellowships continue to connect with Ben (USA). Thank you all for upholding each other, and reach out to other; them in prayer. 2.4 Pray for God’s break through in all that church is doing so that we may experience renewal in the life of community and ministry. 2. Pray for LCEC 2022 and English Ministry Committee that they may work together to reach out to families, our young people, and our community. 3

“God looks for those whose hearts are prepared to be intercessors before Him ...Intercessors can be the only ones standing between an individual or a nation and God’s wrath.” Henry Blackaby Weekly Praying for the Church 5. P ray for our church family continue to 6. P ray for spiritual awakening experience living God in each of these household at Camberwell Methodist 1.1 Your plead with the Lord to be Church. We pray for deeper relationship merciful to us and graciously draw us among the family members, deeper back to Himself and His ways. Ask Him to relationship between husband and show us unfailing love and grant us His wife, and deeper relationship between salvation that we may rejoice in Him. parents and children. I cannot stress more than saying this is the time, God 1.2 Restore us again, O God our is at work through and in our families. Saviour...Will you not revive us again, Let us not look else where but instead that your people may rejoice in you? look within our daily relationship and Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and our family. God is right there with us. grant us your salvation (Psalm 85:4,6-7); Seek Him first and His kingdom, all these things shall be added to you. 1.3 Thank God that He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Cry out to Him for an outpouring and mighty working of the Holy Spirit in our day. 1.4 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. (Luke 11:13) 4

All that’s going on around Camberwell Methodist Church COMMUNITY WATCH Welcome Family Devotion We welcome everyone who join our worship We encourage families to start a regular family service. May the peace of God be with you! If you devotion each week. It is our main thing for our are a new friend to the church, please introduce church because we will grow stronger, closer, and yourself. more love for God and one another. Let us not waste this time of being together…. explore every Restrictions opportunity to play, to read, to do something together, to pray and to sing together. UPDATED PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS TO KEEP VICTORIANS SAFE (Refer attachment on page10) Personal Testimony Face masks will be required in all indoor settings, except private homes, for persons aged eight and We encourage you to write your personal older will have to wear masks in all indoor settings testimony and send it to [email protected]. - except private homes - and at all large outdoor events, from 11.59pm on Thursday 23/12/2021. Use of church venue for followship Gentle Reminder: The church strongly recommends all church attendees to check in with Please book through picktime.com to avoid clash QR Code as a loving gesture to enable us to keep of use. Please make sure all lights, air-conditioners, track in the event of an outbreak. Furthermore, and other equipment are switched off, also facemask will need to be worn indoor together making sure all doors are locked before leaving. with frequent washing of hands. Family Discipleship Survey Form Prayer Meeting Thursday (06/1) 7:30PM We invite brothers and sisters to fill in the survey Prayer Meeting to be led by Ps. Allan Quah form to help the church in planning the family through Zoom. Let us come to count our blessings discipleship ministry. Camberwell MC Online Group and give thanks. Let us continue to serve one (On Facebook) another through prayer. CCLM Module: Introduction to Christian Pastoral Needs Theology If you have any pastoral needs, please do not The purpose is to help participants to gain some hesitate to seek Rev. James Kong (0413 953 238), basic and further understanding of the Christian Ps. Allan Quah (0402 675 219) or local preachers: faith and its theology. Dates: 1st January to 7th Lina Lim, Chris Ting, or Joo Soo Lim. If you need the February 2022 (6 Monday evenings of 1.5 hours pastor to pray for you, do approach Rev. James each) by Rev. Michael Ting. Registration fee: $40. Kong or Ps. Allan Quah after the service. Register by 2nd January 2022. (Refer to Page 8) 5

All that’s going on around Camberwell Methodist Church COMMUNITY WATCH Our Heartiest Congratulation to the newly The Methodist Church in Malaysia-Relief married Fund Isaiah & Sarah Smith, Guan Chen Ting & Hong Fei Board of Christian Social Concern of CMCA wish Ting. to collect target of $10,000 to support current flood disaster relief happening in Malaysia. Please give 1st Local Conference generously and all collected fund will be given to Methodist Church in Malaysia for their distribution The First local Conference of Camberwell in those affected areas. If you give in envelope or Methodist Church will be on 15/01/2022 (Saturday) online, please put a reference MCM-RF. The local @10AM in the Church Annexe 1. We invite all church will contribute your amount into CMC. May members of the Local Conference (pastors, the Lord be pleased with your offering and bless stewards, retired pastors, local preachers) to you. (Refer attachment on Page 11-12) attend, all committee chairpersons and fellowship Chairperson shall submit reports to Choo Kai Kang (LCEC Chairperson) before 10/01/2022. One Day Seminar 2022 “Transforming ourselves, Transforming our Families” on 08/01/2022 (Sat) at the church (from 9AM to 4:30PM). Speaker: Brett Ryan. 0-4 5-12 13-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61 Years Years Years Years Years Years Years Years old & Old Old Old Old Old Old Old above Physical 6 22 8 0 15 21 6 5 Online 1 2 0 2 7 2 0 0 Total Registered Participants (Physical): 0-4 Years old: 6; 5-12 Years Old: 22; 13-20 Years Old: 8; 21 Years Old & above: 47 Offering detail Thank you once again for brothers and sisters who faithfully support the ministry of the church through finance, prayers, and participation. May God bless you. Here is the bank detail for your reference: Account name: Chinese Methodist Church in Australia Camberwell; BANK: ANZ; BSB: 013 225; Account Number: 4939 79025. We have prepared an Offering Box in the Lobby for envelope offering. Offering: $9,201.00 (19/12-24/12/2021) Description Abbreviations Bank reference Tithing TITHE C9/E11 C9 TITHE Paul WONG General GEN C9/E11 C9 GEN Paul WONG Thanksgiving TKS C9/E11 C9 TKS Paul WONG Mission MIS C9/E11 C9 MIS Paul WONG Theological student THE C9/E11 C9 THE Paul WONG Special SPE C9/E11 C9 SPE Paul WONG Others OTH C9/E11 C9 OTH Paul WONG Building fund C9/E11 C9 Camberwell mc Paul WONG, E11 Mercy mc Paul WONG….. 6

Devotion Week 1: 2nd January 2022 Theme: An Uncompromising Walk Psalm 1 ESV 1 Blessed is the man[a] who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. As I read Psalm 1, three illustrations from the Bible flash into my mind. Two men flirted with evil, then fell; but there was one other who refused to begin a \"walk in the counsel of the wicked.\" The first two illustrations involve Lot and Samson; the third is Joseph. People the world over are familiar with Samson, whose life is best described in Proverbs 5:20–23: Most people are not as well-acquainted with Lot, Abraham's nephew. With Psalm 1:1 in mind, note Genesis 13: Lot \"walked in the way of the ungodly.\" He \"came and took his stand among sinners.\" And in Genesis 19: He now lived among them with his dwelling in \"the seat of the scoffers.\" How different was Joseph! He refused to allow the daily grind of compromise to take its toll even though Potiphar's wife continued to make her sensual moves. Please stop and read Genesis 39:1–12. Psalm 1:1 assures us we will be happy many times over if we check the first signals of compromise with evil. Happiness is maintaining unblemished, moral purity. \"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night\" (Psalm 1:2). This verse begins with \"but,\" a word of contrast. While the first verse was negative, this is positive. In contrast to compromise and erosion, the godly believer occupies himself with God's Word. 7a

Why does David mention the Law here? Because in order to change our path of living, we need an absolute standard, clear direction. God's Word gives us that sense of direction. We understand the Law to be a reference to God's written Word, the Bible (Psalm 119:9). The psalmist claims that the godly person \"delights\" in the Lord's Word, day and night he meditates on it. Now verse 3 declares the end result: He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. I am impressed that we shall be something rather than do something as a result of delighting in and meditating on God's Word. Without any fanfare, yet surely as the rising of the morning sun, we shall become treelike in four specific ways. We will be: 1. Planted—fortified, stable, rooted, solid, and strong 2. Fruitful—production naturally follows being planted and growing 3. Unwithered—even during days of difficulty, the treelike soul is undaunted 4. Prosperous—fulfills the goals God has designed for his life I have said for years: \"The roots grow deep when the winds are strong\" (see Jeremiah 17:5–8). Let me encourage you today to maintain a pure, uncompromising walk; delight yourself in His Word, and you'll grow into a stable, reliable \"spiritual tree.\" There is no shortcut to spiritual growth. Like physical growth, it occurs on a daily basis, depending upon the food and proper surroundings. With the right kind of spiritual diet and climate, you can experience \"happiness many times over.\" And best of all, the daily grind of compromise and its erosive effects can be checked. Reflection: The godly person doesn't see the Word as a burden or interruption in his day; he \"delights\" in the Lord’s Word. Prayer From Living the Psalms by Charles R. Swindoll, copyright © 2012. . 7b

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Course: Introduction to Christian Theology Do you desire for you and your Teacher: Rev. Michael Ting church to stand on rock-solid theological doctrine? ASSIGNMENT … The Bible, theology, method, Write a book review of 2,000 words on Part 2 of Knowing God/Trinity, Jesus/Christ, God. ‘Behold Your God!’ (pages 83-198) Humanity, Sin, Salvation/Gospel, Holy Spirit, • 1,300 words on the highlight and importance of the The Church, The section of the book. Future/Eschatology, Mission/Evangelism … • 350 words on what impacted you as a Christian, from the section of the book. GOALS: To gain some basic and further understanding of the • Another 350 words on what you think you need to Christian faith and its theology. teach to your church/Christians around you today. CLASSES: 6 days of each 2.5 hrs REFLECTION Write a simple and straight forward reflection of your TIME: 2100 to 2330 learning in class for about 500 words. What you find it helpful and applicable to your life as a Christian. (AEDT) RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOK Knowing God: With Study Guide 1800 to 2030 (AWST) By J. I. Packer, Published by Hodder & Stoughton, 2005 (ebook version, 2011) DATES: Koorong $22.99 Koorong ebook $13.99 Mon 3 January 2022 REGISTRATION Mon 10 January 2022 https://forms.gle/6FsriBimpy1E5MHf6 Mon 17 January 2022 Mon 24 January 2022 Mon 31 January 2022 Mon 7 February 2022 ENQUIRY CONTACT: Rev. Alan Lau Phone: 0407515103 Email: [email protected] 8

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Wednesday, 15 December 2021 UPDATED PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTIONS TO KEEP VICTORIANS SAFE With more than 92 per cent of eligible Victorians double dose vaccinated, coronavirus restrictions are being updated to ensure Victorians enjoy more freedoms this festive season, keeping themselves and their families safe while the Omicron variant is monitored and investigated. Minister for Health Martin Foley will today sign pandemic orders under the new Public Health and Wellbeing Act, which will come into effect from 11.59pm tonight and be in place until 12 January 2022. The Minister has made the decision to sign the pandemic orders after considering advice from the Chief Health Officer (CHO) that there continues to be a serious risk to public health from the global pandemic, and that restrictions continue to be necessary to protect Victorians and the healthcare system. In particular, the CHO has highlighted the need to gather more information about the Omicron variant of concern before considering further changes to protective measures – such as mask requirements. All Victorians who are eligible for a booster five months after their second shot are urged to book an appointment as soon as possible – especially those at higher risk of contracting the virus, such as healthcare workers. Ensuring children are protected from coronavirus is also vital, and parents are encouraged to get their kids vaccinated when the rollout for five to 11-year-olds begins on 10 January 2022. As part of the orders, people under 18 will no longer be required to show proof of their vaccination status at all venues, such as hospitality. The mandatory vaccination requirement will be removed for all customers in retail, except hair and beauty services, and will also be removed in real estate, places of worship, weddings and funerals. Mask settings in retail remain unchanged. Under the pandemic orders, restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs are still only open to fully vaccinated patrons and staff. Workers are required to wear masks. Face masks no longer need to be worn at weddings, funerals, or ceremonial settings. If these events are held at places of worship there will not be any vaccination requirements or limits on participants, nor any requirement for organisers to check vaccination status. If the ceremony is at a hospitality setting, vaccine requirements will apply. Workplaces exposed to a positive coronavirus case will no longer need to be deep cleaned, after mounting international evidence that coronavirus is an airborne or droplet-borne disease and the likelihood of becoming infected by touching a surface is very low risk. In addition, tour and transport operators, gyms and creative arts premises such as theatres and cinemas will not need to clean equipment between uses. Workplaces will still need to maintain CovidSafe plans. Elective surgery rules are also being updated, with rural and regional health services able to resume up to 75 per cent of normal elective surgery activity. Media contact: Harry Adam 0448 505 876 | [email protected] 10

20th December, 2021 Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Our Methodist Crisis Relief and Development (MCRD) volunteers are already at ground- level rendering help where possible at places affected by the recent flood that has brought much damage in a number of States. To volunteer help in your localities affected by flood, please contact the following MCRD Coordinators:- Penang: Samuel Lee +60 16-424 1213 Kinta District: Goh Min Sum +60 12-517 3196 Manjung District: Peter Ling +60 17-548 3860 Lim Chee Wee +60 12-558 9753 Kepong: Andrew Lai +60 12-366 7712 Koh Hwei Yee +60 16-600 5205 Ampang: Samuel Chiam +60 11-2015 4556 Klang: Samuel Siah +60 12-297 7797 Melaka: Lye Ching Yen +60 16-227 8048 Segamat: Yeo Bee Hui+60 12-757 2998 Kuantan: Ngien Su Kong +60 19-824 3072 Raub/Benta: Guok Shu Yau +60 16-934 4135 General: Michael Chang +6011-2906 5092 Helen Ngu +6011-2906 5091 Leonidas Woo +60 19-290 6194 To donate money to bring relief to the families and individuals affected, you can either support through your local church or send the funds to the following account. AREA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE METHODIST CHURCH IN MALAYSIA UOB Bank Berhad Account number: 1293032896 After depositing the funds, please send us your bank-in slips and let us know via [email protected] your contact details for us to acknowledge your contributions with official receipts. Let us be praying for all the people and places that have been affected by the flood. We pray for the water to recede, roads and homes to be cleaned up speedily, water and electricity supply to be returned to normalcy. Pray also for all victims at the evacuation centres to be 11

taken care of with sufficient food, mattresses, blankets, medicines, and toiletries. Let us not forget to pray for the safety of those who are mobilised to help the affected areas. Pray everyone will be protected from the Covid-19 viruses too. Pray also for flood mitigation efforts to be undertaken by authorities regularly. The wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Blessings, Bishop Dr. T. Jeyakumar 12